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The ancient Hebrew word Tsiyon (Zion) is “a Canaanite hill fortress in Jerusalem captured by David and called in the Bible ‘City of David.’" Zion can refer to one of three places: the hill where the most ancient areas of Jerusalem stood; the city of Jerusalem itself; or the dwelling place of God.
Zion is described both as the city of David and the city of God. As the Bible progresses, the word Zion expands in scope and takes on an additional, spiritual meaning. The first mention of Zion in the Bible is 2 Samuel 5:7: “David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David.”
What Does the Bible Say About Mount Zion? The word Zion appears 152 times in the Old Testament, seven times in the New Testament, and is not only used to describe the mountain. The Bible describes Zion as: The City of David (2 Samuel 5:7, 1 Kings 8:1, 1 Chronicles 11:5) The city of Jerusalem (Isaiah 33:20, Isaiah 40:9, Psalm 51:18)
In the Old Testament, Zion represents both a physical location and a spiritual ideal. The New Testament enhances Zion’s representation as a heavenly city and fulfillment of divine promise. Across the Bible, Zion symbolizes hope, restoration, and God’s eternal dwelling place.
Zion is the place from which "the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore" (Psalm 133:3). Zion can be thought of as the spiritual and future eternal Jerusalem (Isaiah 28:16; Isaiah 33:20).
Zion is the whole city, cited in parallel with the other fortified cities of Judah as a place of safety (Jer 4:5, 6; cf. Lam 5:11); and people of other cities are thus said to be brought “to Zion” (Jer 3:14).
Biblical Significance of Zion. The word “Zion” first appears in the Bible in 2 Samuel 5:7, where David captures the fortress of Zion. That is why we know it as the City of David. This early reference is purely geographical, identifying a stronghold in ancient Jerusalem.